Christmas longing fulfilled with choir presentation

BY GAIL M. WILLIAMS | Herald Lifestyles Editor

Published 10:25 am, Thursday, December 11, 2014

Photo: Gail M. Williams | Plainview Herald

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Choir members directed by Joe Berry sing out at a rehearsal in preparation for the College Heights Baptist Church program “My Heart Longs for Christmas” to be presented at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, and 10:40 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. less

Choir members directed by Joe Berry sing out at a rehearsal in preparation for the College Heights Baptist Church program “My Heart Longs for Christmas” to be presented at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, and ... more

Photo: Gail M. Williams | Plainview Herald

Christmas longing fulfilled with choir presentation

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For two months, altos, sopranos, tenors and basses have rehearsed every Wednesday night in preparation for the program “My Heart Longs for Christmas” to be presented at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, and 10:40 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, by a mixed choir of men, women, youth and children. Dessert will follow Saturday’s concert.

“It’s the Christmas story,” said Joe Berry, who has directed the College Heights choir for 17 years.

College Heights Baptist Church at 802 Quincy St. presents a Christmas program every year, Berry said. He and the music director at First Baptist Church have exchanged songs from two different scripts, “My Heart Longs for Christmas” and “Songs of Christmas,” to better suit their choirs’ talents.

Bentley Gwyn and Laine Smith narrate the story that ties the songs together.

“There will be familiar songs and plenty of opportunities for the audience to sing along,” Berry said.

Berry, who was involved in elementary music education for 35 years, is now administrative assistant of recruiting and special projects for the School of Fine Arts & School of Music at Wayland Baptist University. He also serves as president of Plainview Symphony Orchestra.